Licensing laws - Rash social experiments won’t help

It is crazy to have the Department of Health appoint a Strategic Task Force on Alcohol and then ignore its recommendations.

Surely its recommendations deserve careful consideration before legislation is introduced that runs directly contrary to the advice that the Government should restrict the number of alcohol outlets.

Constance Cassidy, an expert in licensing law, warned yesterday that under the new Intoxicating Liquor Bill 2005 any restaurant, sandwich bar and internet café could be licensed to sell alcohol.